Screw conveyer



c. H. ANDERSON SCREW CONVEYER June 15, 1948.

Filed May 28. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGB CLIFFORD H. ANDERSON June 15,1948. c. H. ANDERSON SCREW c'oNvEYER Filed may 2e. 194e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2NIH gvvUQ/YVKM CLIFFORD H ANDERSON i |||||||ll 4Patr'enllecl June l5,194g UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,443,288 SCREW CONVEYER Clifford H.Anderson, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application May 28, 1946, Serial No. 672,725

13 Claims.

My invention relates to sectional screw conveyers and has for an objectto provide a construction whereby the conveyer sections may be readilyconnected together.

Anotherl object of the invention resi-des in providing a constructionwhereby torsional and longitudinal stresses are readily transmitted fromone section to the other, both for conveyers in which the drive islocated at the inlet Vand for conveyers in which the drive is at theoutlet.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing onesection of the conveyer with a shaft extension and the other section ofthe conveyer with a flight extension adapted to receive the shaftextension and in further providing locking means for securing the partstogether.

Ano-ther object of the invention resides in providing a constructionwhere the flights may be joined together in continuation oi one anotherand without increasing the thickness of the same.

A further object of the invention resides in providing hook members atthe ends of the conveyer nights for interlocking arrangement with oneanother to transmit torsional stresses from one conveyer ilight to theother.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing the shaftextension with a helical abutment for engaging the flight extension totransmit longitudinal stresses from one section to another.

An object of the invention resides in providing a helical rib extendingalong the reentrant angle formed between the flight extension and theshaft extension and forming the abutment for engagement'with said flightextension.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing said ribfrom wire or rod circular in cross section.

Other objects of the invention resi-de in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/ or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 isa longitudinal elevational View of a portion of a conveyerillustrating an embodiment of my invention and showing a portion of thecase in section.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevational view of one of the conveyersections detached from the companion conveyer section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a portion of the other conveyersection.

Fig, 4 is an elevational view of the connector used between the shaftsof the conveyer sections shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. l of another form of conveyer.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a portion of one of' the conveyersections shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of the companion conveyer section.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional View taken on line Ill- I0 of Fig. '7.

Fig, 11 is a cross sectional view taken on line I I--I I 0f Fig. '7.

In the use of screw conveyers for handling coal in Stoker systems forfurnaces and boilers, it frequently occurs that conveyers of appreciablelength are required. 'I'hese conveyers :are often installed in crowdedquarters and have to be moved through cramped openings to bring the sameto the desired localities. It hence becomes desirable to provideconveyers which may be constructed in sections and the sections readilyconnected together on the job to produce conveyers of the desiredultimate length. Due to the variety of installations in which suchconveyers may be employed, it is often necessary to install the drivefor the conveyer at either end of the same. When the -conveyer drive islocated at the inlet end of the conveyer, longitudinal stress istransmitted from the shaft of one section to the other by compressionand torsional stress is transmitted from the flight of the drive sectionto that of the companion ight by tension. When the drive is located atthe `discharge end of the conveyer, thereverse is true, This presentstwo distinct problems and the present invention provides a solution forboth problems.

In Fig. l, I have shown a conveyer I0, the drive for which is located atthe discharge end of the conveyer. The invention not residing in thedrive, the same has not been shown in the drawings. The conveyer I0consists of a screw II mounted in a case I2. The case I2 may be a tubeor a box open at the top or may consist of any construction such' as isnow in common use for the purpose. The screw II is formed in twosections i3 and I4 and the case I2 may also be formed in sections whichcan be secured together in any suitable manner in accordance withcustomary practice. Since the case I2 forms no particular feature of theinstant invention, the

lsame has not been shown in detail in the drawings.

The conveyer section I3 consists of a shaft I5 which has attached to ita helical night I 6. This night may be constructed of bar stock which iswound in the form of a helix and which is constructed so as to snuglyreceive the shaft I5. In the form of the conveyer shown, this night iswelded to the shaft I5 at intervals or continuously as desired. To avoidconfusion, the welding of said night to the shaft has not been shown inth'e drawings. The shaft I5 is formed with a recess I'I in the extremeend 28 thereof asbest shown in Fig. 3. The night I6 is constructed witha night extension I8 which is of the same pitch and dimensions as thenight I6 but which projects outwardly beyond the end 28 of i5 as shownin Fig. 3.

The conveyer section I4 is shown in detailsfin Fig. 2 and includes ashaft I9 which'is of theY same diameter and construction as the' shaftI5. The said shaft has a spiral night 21|` attached to it which is ofthe same form, dimensions and pitch as the flight I5. and nightextension vI8. This 'night is also constructed of bar stock which iswelded to the shaft I9 in the saine manner as the night I5. The shaft I9is formedwith'a shaft extension 22 which projects outwardlybeyond theend 32' of the night 2| and which is of the same length' as the nightextension I8.

Attached to the shaft extension 22 yis a helical rib I23 formed of wireor rod preferably circular in cross section. This rib is wound to formaspiral of the -same pitch as the pitch of thevvnigh't extension i8 andis located in the reentrant angle 2 formed between the night 2I andtheshaft I9. When the parts are assembled, this rib becomes disposed inthe corresponding reentrant angle 25 formed between thenight extensionI8 and-the shaft extension 22. The said rib is welded to the shaftextension 22 as indicated `at -26 and along theoside thereof oppositethe side disposed in the angles 24 and25. This leaves the 'rib -free ofweld at the locality vof engagement with rthe night extension I8 andprovides a, rounded surface for .engaging said Vnight extension. Thissurface forms an abutment for transmitting longitudinal stress from theconveyor section I4 to the `conveyer section I3. ,Y l p The two shaftsVi5 and I9 are connected together by means of a connector'35 Whichis ofsuc-h shape as to nt intothe two notches Il and 29 of the shaft E5 andthe shaft 'extension 2,2, 4Screws and 3l extend throughopenings3-Band-319 formed in the ends of the'shaft I5 :and theshaftextens101122and are screwed into theconnector 35 which is tapped as indicated at 4Inand-42 to re- Ccve the4 same. By means of this construction, the twoshafts are connected together in sucha manner that the diameter of theshaftslat the connection is not increased.

The method of connecting the twoA sections of the conveyertogether isas'follows: The section having the drive isfrequently installed nrst.This would be section I4 of the :conveyorlshown in Fig. l.; The case I2of said conveyer preferably terminates at the locality of the endv 21 ofthe shaft extensionZZ of said conveyer section. The conveyer section vI3is next placed within its case and with a short portion of the flightextension i8 projecting therefrom. VThe 'saidsectionand tube is thenpositioned at the vend -oftliewshaft extension .22 andthe nightextension I8 screwed on the shaft extension 22,.v 'As the sectionI3advances along the section I4, night extension `I8 follows ainfgtherib-23 until the yend zofsna'ft l5 engages the end 21 f shaft extension22. The parts are so designed thatwhenthis -occurs,gthe

the shaft notches I7 and 29 are in register and that the end 3i of theflight extension |'8 is in alignment with and butts up against the end32 of night 2| Also, when the parts are in such position, the surface 34of the shaft extension I8 is, throughout its extent, in engagement withthe side 33 of the rib 23 which forms the abutment for engagement withthe night extension I8.. Thereafter the connector 35 is applied and issecured in position by means ofthe screws 35' and 31. The conveyersections are now properly connected together. The case section for thesection I3 is next attached to the case section for the` section I4. Ifthe conveyer consists of more sections, the additional sections aresimilarly installed. The conveyer is then ready for use.

The form of the conveyer shown in Fig. 1, as previously stated, i-s ofthe type wherein the drive forthe conveyer is located at the dischargeendV of the conveyer. In this particular case, the drivewould beconnected to the section I4. The lscrew II would rotate in thedirection.indicated by the arrow and the coal would Vmove from the section `I3toward the section 44. It willreadily be comprehended that torsionalstresses would' Abe transmitted directly'in compression from .theend 32v,of ythe conveyor night 2l to theend 3i of the .night `extension I 8.Since the coal in vthe conveyer'section I3 would tend to resist travelin the Vdirectionindicateil by the arrow, 4it. would exert a .pull onl'thenight extension I8. This Vpull would be directly resisted by theAr-ib -23 whose surface 33;-would vloe in contact `with-the Ysurface34er thenight extension I'8. Th-us, transmission oflpower from onesectionpto the other would :be procured without vstressing theconnection-.fa-1.- forded bythe connector 35 'and the screwsfand 3,7associated therewith.

In Figs. 7 'to 11, I have -shown a `conveyor in whichxthe drive issituated at the vinlet 'endz'offthe vconveyer at which the hopperis=located. This -conveye'rlis -indicate'din =its -entirety :by lthelrefer-- ence numeral y43L and comprises ascrew '4'4fformed in twosectionsf45 and"46. Saidscrewis mounted in a case 41 whichisalsoconstructed.intentions. vThe 'sections ofl this icase may-fleeVVjoined"together "asipreviously described in any 'suitablefrnannerfandlth'e method of joining the same, forming no ifea-ture iofftheinvention,v has not been shown Vin the drawings. f

Thefsection 45 of'screw 44 comprises'fa shaft 4,8 which is shown inAdetail :in-Fig.' 9- and is "formed Iatcneendlll 'withral recess 49;Thists'haftlias mounted upon lit, aA 'night -5 I Ysimilar in'construction to the Anight I6offconveyersectionl'l and which is weldedto it as previously described. This nightr is provided with anightI'exte'nsion "52 which projects outwardly beyond'lthe en`d`15`3 ofsnaftat,Y l n 'The "section llt of. 'conveyor screw "44 is cons'tru'cted'with a vshaft 55 "of `the'fsamle diameter as the shaft 48. MountedYonfthe shaftE'Bfis a night 59 which-is oiVv the same'form anddimenfsi-ons as the, nightv' I This. night is welded.- to

'thelshaftEin the sameV manner as thelflight 5I.

.shaft 48-overlie one another as --shoWn in Fig. 7 when the .parts vare'assembled. 'These .two .parts may be secured togetherby'meansf'ofaafscrewfl 5 which extends through the end 5l `and isthreaded into the end 62.

Attached to the shaft extension 57 is a helical rib t5 Which lies in thereentrant angle 65 formed -between the flight 59 and the shaft 55. Thisrib has the same pitch as the flight extension 52. When the section 45i-s applied to the section 66, the surface 67 of the rib 65 engages thesurface 53 of the flight extension 52. This rib is Welded to the shaftextension 5l as indicated at 69 on the side of the same opposite thesurface ii'i.

For connecting the night extension 52 to the flight 59, the end 55 ofsaid extension is formed with a notch 'i3 which forms on said flightextension a hook lll. The end S of flight 59 is also formed with a notch"H Which-provides on said fight, a, hook lf2. These parts are adapted tohook 'together and to transmit torsional stress from flight section 59to fiight section 5i.

In assembling the parts of the conveyer shown in Figs. '7 to 1l, theprocedure is much the same as that previously described. The drive beingconnected to section 46, this section together with its case section maybe rst installed. Section 45, together with its case section, and withthe flight extension 52 projecting slightly beyond said case section isplaced end to end with the section 453. The flight extension 52 ofsection 45 is then screwed on the shaft extension until the end El ofshaft i3 engages the end 52 of shaft extension 5l. Fight extension 52will then lie intermediate the convolutions of the ribs E5. The partsare then turned until the recesses 49 and 58 lie opposite one another.The section l5 is then slid axially toward the section 46. This causesthe end fit* of shaft iii to enter the recess 58 and the end S2 of shaftextension 51 to enter recess 49. At the same time, hook 74 on flightextension 52 enters notch 'H on iiight 59, and hook l2 on flight 55enters notch 13. When the` section 45 is slid inwardly as far as it willgo, the parts become arranged as shown in Fig. '7. Screw 64 is nextapplied and the parts are then completely assembled. The helical rib 65is so located that when the said parts are assembled, the surface Elthereof abuts against the surface 68 of the flight extension 52 and theHight extension 52 is in alignment with flight 59.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 11, the drive, aspreviously stated, is connected to the shaft 5f. This shaft rotates inthe direction of the arrow. The coal, in this case, is progressed fromthe section il@ to the section 45. rIhis places a tension between theflight 59 and the flight 5i and the torsional stress from the section 45is transmitted to the section 45 through the hooks l2 and M.Longitudinal stress is, in this form of the invention, transmitteddirectly by the rib 55 to the flight extension 52. This causes the coalto progress in the proper direction.

While I have described the conveyer as being formed of bar stock weldedto the shaft, it can readily be comprehended that the conveyer can becast or otherwise formed.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. Screw conveyors embodyingmy invention can be Yinstalled in awkward places and be moved throughcramped and crooked passageways and openings. The sections can be madein standard lengths and the end sections out down to procure any overalldimensions. By the use of the ribs located at the angle formed betweenthe ight and the shaft, practically no substantial increase in thediameter of the shaft is procured and the coal or other material handledwill readily move from one section to the other Without obstruction.Where an enlargement of the shaft is procured, which extends from oneconvolution to the other, the coal must be compressed in order to passsuch section. At the same time, the capacity of the entire conveyer islimited by the capacity at such section. This is entirely overcome withmy invention. The conveyer sections are easily connected together in thefield by means of tools ordinarily available to the person installingthe equipment. The conveyer sections are self-aligning so that a minimumamount of time is required in installing the conveyer, The invention maybe constructed at but a slight increase in cost over and abovecontinuous sections. By using a round rod or wire for the rib, contactis provided along the face of the conveyer flight instead of at itsinnermost corner as would be the case if a rectangular rib wereemployed.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, maybe made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing fromV thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, two conveyer sections for endwise connection to eachother, each including a shaft and a helical conveyer flight thereon, oneof the sections having a shaft extension extending beyond the conveyernight thereof, the other of said sections having a flight extensionextending beyond the shaft thereof,fsaid shaft extension being receivedin said ight extension with the end of said flight extension lying'incontinuation of the end of the flight on the complemental section toform a continuous helix of uniform thickness and an abutment on saidshaft extension engaging the flight extension to transmit longitudinalstress from one section to the other.

2. In combination, two conveyer sections for endwise connection to eachother, each including a shaft and a helical conveyer flight thereon, oneof the sections having a shaft extension extending beyond the conveyerflight thereof, the other of said sections having a flight extensionextending beyond the shaft thereof, said shaft extension being receivedin said flight extension with the end of said flight extension lying incontinuation of the end of the flight on the complemental section toform a continuous helix of uniform thickness and a helical abutmentsecured to said shaft extension and engaging said flight extension totransmit the longitudinal stress from one section to the other.

3. In combination, two conveyer sections for endwise connection to eachother, each including a shaft and a helical conveyer flight thereon, oneof the sections having a shaft extension extending beyond the conveyerflight thereof, the other of said sectionshaving a fiight extensionextending beyond the shaft thereof, said shaft extension being receivedin said night extension with the end of said flight extension lying incontinuation of the end of the flight on the complemental section toform a continuous helix of uniform thickness and an abutment on saidshaft extension engaging the iiight extension to transmit longitudinalstress from one section to the other and locking means for securing theends of said flight extension and the juxtaposed flight together.

4. In combination, two conveyer sections for endwise connection to eachother, each including a shaft and a-helical vconveyer flight there- 12.In combination, two conveyer sections for endWise connection to eachother, each including a shaft and a helical conveyer flight thereon, oneof the sections having a shaft extension extending beyond the conveyerflight thereof, the other of said sections having a flight extensionextending beyond the shaft thereof, said shaft extension being receivedin said flight extension with the end of said flight extension lying incontinuation of the end of the flight on the complemental section toform a, continuous helix of uniform thickness and abutments on saidflight extension and on the flight of said cornplemental section forengagement with one another to transmit torsional stress from thedriving conveyer section to the driven conveyer section.

13. In combination, two conveyer sections for endWise connection to eachother, each including a shaft and a helical conveyer flight thereon, oneof the sections having a shaft extension extending beyond the conveyeright thereof, the other of said sections having a flight extensionextending beyond the shaft thereof, said shaft eXtension being receivedin said flight extension with the end of said flight extension lying in-continuation of the end of the flight on the complemental section toform a continuous helix of 10 uniform thickness and a helical ribissuing from said shaft extension and engaging one surface of saidflight extension for transmitting longitudinal stress from one sectionto the other, said rib forming an acute angle With said shaft ex tensionon the side facing said flight extension at the locality of engagementwith said flight extension and thereby engaging said flight extensionalong a line spaced outwardly from said shaft extension to procureuniform contact with the ight extension throughout the extent of saidrib.

CLIFFORD H. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 665,262 Peck Jan. 1, 1901 902,530Gustavesen Oct. 27, 1908 2,118,289 Birkenbeuel May 24, 1938 2,138,576Gebert Nov. 29, 1938 2,292,934 Fit-ch Aug. 11, 1942 2,360,776 Kozak Oct.17, 1944 2,394,163 Gebert Feb, 5, 1946

